Complying with the RoHS Directive – The use of harmonised standards
With only a few exceptions, the RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU is one of the pieces of EU harmonisation legislation that applies to almost all electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market. A wide range of products, from consumer electronics and household appliances to IT equipment, lighting, tools and monitoring and control instruments, must comply with […]
Launching the RoHS or Not Regulatory Timeline
Last updated 12 oct 2026 Our Regulatory Timeline is now live. It is a free tool that shows, on a single page, when EU obligations apply to electrical and electronic products, from batteries and packaging to radio equipment and cybersecurity. Why we built it The dates that matter to manufacturers, importers and distributors are spread […]
When Is a Battery “Removable”? What Article 11 Requires
The EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 requires that portable batteries incorporated in products be removable and replaceable. Article 11 sets out the conditions under which a battery is considered removable and replaceable, together with two derogation paths and a set of obligations that apply regardless of which path applies. Any product incorporating a portable battery […]
Replaceable Smartphone Batteries: Already the Law. Not a 2027 Surprise
You may have seen posts circulating on LinkedIn and beyond claiming that the EU will soon impose a “new” requirement forcing smartphone makers to offer user-replaceable batteries, with 2027 cited as the deadline. Let me set the record straight. The claim going around The narrative usually goes something like this: “Big news: from 2027, the […]
Is there really such a thing as RoHS 3?
I recently made a video about the different versions of the RoHS Directive, and in it I mentioned that the 2015/863 Delegated Directive is often called “RoHS 3”. But here’s the catch: that name is not official. On the European Commission’s website, the evolution of the RoHS framework is presented as follows: Directive 2002/95/EC — […]
“Lead-free” doesn’t mean RoHS compliant
Five common answers that don’t guarantee RoHS compliance Many procurement departments face a real challenge: sourcing electronic components that actually comply with the RoHS Directive. When requesting a declaration of compliance, it’s common to get answers that sound reasonable… but don’t actually prove anything. Here are five typical supplier responses that don’t guarantee RoHS compliance, […]
